Today’s theme is… again INSULTS! For today, the focus will be on insulting words or phrases that are a little more “sophisticated.” Some of them are less insulting than merely very harsh or critical. Thus, they are somewhat more rare than the first list of insults. Nevertheless, you will definitely come across all these words sooner or later if you watch enough anime.
I actually wrote most of this yesterday. There were just too many harsh and demeaning words floating around in my head – the evidence of years of avid anime-watching….
1. MEZAWARI = eyesore
Example: When someone or something is viewed as being an obtrusion or bringing unpleasant thoughts/feelings/etc. The person who says this usually has the intention of “getting rid” of the unpleasant obtrusion.
2. SHITSUKOI = annoyingly persistant
Example: “shitsukoi na yatsu da na” = “You really don’t give up, do you?” (in an ironic, irritated tone)
3. KUDARANAI = ridiculous, worthless
Example: Often said about plans, ideas or stories: “not even worth listening to!”
4. JAMA MONO = person/thing who gets in the way, a hindrance
Example: “jama mono wa zenbu kowasu!” = “I’ll destroy everything that gets in my way!”
5. HIKYOU MONO = coward, treacherous person
Example: Often said of someone who uses “cowardly tricks” or deception to win a fight, rather than fighting fair and square.
6. KIMOCHI WARUI = creepy, disgusting (lit. bad feeling)
Example: Said about anything from scary bugs, to creepy perverts, to weird or dirty places. Can even be said about phrases/people that are too strongly affectionate, making one feel unsettled or embarrassed.
7. YAKAMASHII = noisy, “shut up!”
Example: A strict sort of character has had enough of fooling around. The same meaning as “urusai,” just more strong-sounding.
8. YOWAI/YOWEE = weak
Example: “omae hontou ni yowee na” = “You really are weak!”
9. KEGARAWASHII= filthy, unclean
Example: In Japanese contempt is often shown by calling someone “filthy.” This is often said to someone who is supposedly of a lower class, has impure blood, or is “stained,” “untouchable,” etc.
10. USUGITANAI = dirty
Example: Often said of someone who is tricky and underhanded (figuratively dirty). Also literally dirty, as in unclean.
